Cochran leads UConn past Rutgers 28-17

Published November 30. 2013 4:00PM

Updated November 30. 2013 4:40PM

Associated Press

Publication: theday.com

East Hartford — Casey Cochran threw for 311 yards and two touchdowns and Connecticut beat Rutgers 28-17 on Saturday, in the final conference meeting between the two regional rivals.
Max DeLorenzo rushed for two scores for the Huskies (2-9, 2-5 American), who won for the second straight week after losing their first nine games this season.
DeLorenzo’s second touchdown run, from a yard out, put the Huskies in front 21-17 in the fourth quarter. Cochran, the ex-New London and Masuk great, then led UConn on a 12-play, 56-yard drive on their next possession, sealing the win with a 3-yard touchdown pass to freshman Brian Lemelle.
Senior Chas Dodd, making his first start of the season for Rutgers (5-6, 2-5) threw for 286 yards and a touchdown. But he also threw two interceptions to UConn cornerback Taylor Mack, including one on the Husky 19-yard line with just 2 minutes left.
Connecticut led 14-10 at the half, its first halftime lead since it led Michigan in September — a game the Huskies lost 24-21.
But Dodd, who got the start over team captain Gary Nova, helped put Rutgers back in front in the third quarter. He found Quron Pratt down the left sideline for an 84-yard completion, the longest play of the season for the Scarlet Knights. That set up a 3-yard touchdown run from Justin Goodwin.
Pratt beat third-string cornerback Tyree Clark, who was playing because of injuries to David Stevenson and Jhavon Williams.
But Connecticut got a big play on its next possession. A screen pass from Cochran to Deshon Foxx went for 41 yards, setting up DeLorenzo’s touchdown run. Foxx caught nine balls for 117 yards.
Connecticut had not won a home game in more than a year, since beating Pitt on Nov. 9, 2012.